Warriors make plans to combat Kiwi Roosters

He [Konrad Hurrell] looks fit, he’s lost his beard, so that’s about 10kgs of weight gone.

Warriors assistant coach Tony Iro says keeping Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck quiet will be the key to picking up a win against the Roosters tomorrow.

The two Kiwis are both match-winners but for differing reasons.

Waerea-Hargreaves is the Roosters’ enforcer, he’ll be confrontational, intimidating and get in the faces of the Warriors forwards.

Tuivasa-Sheck is arguably the best player in the NRL this season and has averaged 239 metres per game. Compare that with 142 per game from Greg Inglis, 167 from Josh Dugan and 114 from Billy Slater.

Iro says they’ve made plans for both players.

With WaereaHargreaves they’re prepared to fight fire with fire.

‘‘You’ve just got to match it and I’m confident in our pack being able to do that,’’ Iro said.

‘‘Jared is in great form and gets good support from Sam Moa, but Ben Matulino has been in great form too and our young props, Albert Vete and Sam Lisone, are both looking forward to the challenge.

‘‘Charlie Gubb is a tough kid who’s been looking for his opportunity and he won’t take a backwards step.’’

As for Tuivasa-Sheck, Iro says the Warriors are realistic that they can’t shut him out of the game, but will try to swamp him with players whenever he touches the ball.

‘‘It’s pretty obvious from his stats that Roger is going to get involved in the game,’’ Iro said.

‘‘He’s way ahead of everyone in terms of metres and carries. We’re not going to stop that because he’s got so much energy around the football field, so we’ve got to reduce his impact.

‘‘Like any of those good players, whether it’s him, Billy Slater or Josh Dugan, you’ve got to get plenty of numbers around him when he’s got the footy, because you know he can skip, step, has speed and is strong.

‘‘He’s probably the form fullback in the comp and our boys know what he’s capable of, so it will be up to them to get their line together and stop his effectiveness.’’

The Warriors will be hoping that their X-factor player, Konrad Hurrell, has a big impact on the game, something he hasn’t often done this season, although injuries, suspensions and demotions to the reserve grade haven’t helped.

Hurrell has the attacking weapons to carve up the Roosters defence, but what the Warriors coaches are concerned about is whether he’s playing at a level high enough to achieve that.

‘‘I know what possible contribution he might bring, because we all know what he’s capable of,’’ Iro said of Hurrell.

‘‘Obviously it’s been a disruptive season and there’s always that little bit of doubt, just like I’d imagine there’d be with the Roosters over Blake Ferguson.

‘‘But Konrad is a quality player and has worked really hard in the three weeks he’s been away.

He looks fit, he’s lost his beard, so that’s about 10kgs of weight gone. ‘‘We’re interested in how he goes and I know he’s keen on making an impression. He’s probably going to be marking Shaun KennyDowall, so there’s a match-up he’ll be looking forward to.’’